The Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA), during its recently-concluded session, enacted the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Act, 2026, paving the way for the creation of a new regional governance institution covering the six eastern Nagaland districts.
The legislation, passed on September 3 after detailed deliberations and amendments, provides for a 62-member Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority with legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers in Tuensang, Mon, Longleng, Kiphire, Noklak and Shamator.
“Due to a combination of historical factors and geographical challenges, the six districts of Eastern Nagaland have long suffered from significant developmental deficits. Despite being rich in resources and human capital, these areas have not been able to keep pace with the progress witnessed in other parts of the State,” Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said on the floor of the House.
The passage marks a significant development in Nagaland’s effort to respond to the long-standing demand of the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) for a special institutional arrangement aimed at addressing developmental disparities and bringing greater decentralisation to the region.
The Act will come into force on a date notified by the state government in the Official Gazette, with different provisions potentially coming into effect on different dates.
The demand for Frontier Nagaland
The six districts of eastern Nagaland collectively account for more than 28% of the state’s population. Yet they are represented by only 20 of Nagaland’s 60 MLAs in the Assembly.
For the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO), this imbalance has long been linked to the region’s political and developmental marginalisation. The ENPO is the apex body representing the eastern Naga tribes, including the Chang, Khiamniungan, Konyak, Phom, Sangtam, Tikhir and Yimkhiung communities.
According to the organisation, the roots of the issue can be traced to 1963, when Nagaland attained statehood. At the time, the state had only three districts — Tuensang, Kohima and Mokokchung. Special provisions under the State of Nagaland Act, 1962, were made for Tuensang, which then included areas that would later become Mon, Longleng and Kiphire districts.
Over the decades, the region was reorganised into several districts, but the ENPO has maintained that administrative changes did not resolve its concerns over representation, resource allocation and development.
In an earlier documentary produced by EastMojo, the ENPO alleged that the region had suffered because of what it described as a biased distribution of government funds.
The organisation argued that inadequate investment in roads, healthcare, education, connectivity and other infrastructure had kept eastern Nagaland behind the rest of the state.
These grievances eventually fuelled a demand for a separate state.
The demand was first formally raised in 2010. It resurfaced with renewed force in 2022, just months before the Nagaland Assembly elections.
In 2022, the ENPO organised a public rally demanding the creation of a separate state to be called Frontier Nagaland. The organisation intensified its campaign for a separate political arrangement and announced its decision to abstain from participating in elections until its demands were addressed.
The boycott was eventually withdrawn after the Centre gave “assurances” to the organisation. Subsequently, the ENPO and a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) team headed by then adviser A.K. Mishra reached a mutual understanding on the creation of a “Frontier Naga Territory”, envisaged as an autonomous body to be implemented after the 2023 Assembly elections.
On February 5, 2026, the Government of India, the Government of Nagaland and representatives of the ENPO signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) for the formation of the FNTA within the state.
The FNTA Bill was subsequently introduced in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly in March 2026. However, following opposition from the ENPO over certain provisions, the Bill was deferred. It was reintroduced during the September 2026 Assembly session and subsequently passed by the House.
“The objective of constituting the FNTA is to establish a unique self-governing Territorial Authority that will enable the people of Eastern Nagaland to fulfil their social, economic, educational, cultural, and linguistic aspirations.
It will also provide for democratic, decentralised self-governance at the regional level within the State of Nagaland,” Rio said while supporting the Bill.
How the FNTA will be constituted
The FNTA will have 62 members, comprising 40 directly elected members, with one-third of the seats reserved for women; two members nominated by the Governor from recognised tribes that are unrepresented or under-represented; and 20 Nagaland MLAs from constituencies within the FNT area as ex-officio members without voting rights.
The FNT region will be divided into 40 single-member territorial constituencies, with elections conducted under the supervision of the State Election Commission. Elected and nominated FNTA members will normally serve a five-year term.
Interim Council
Under the Act, the government may establish an Interim Council to manage the affairs of the FNTA until it is constituted through elections.
The Interim Council will comprise up to 13 members nominated by the Governor on the recommendation of the ENPO, in consultation with the respective Tribal Councils.
The Governor may also nominate up to four elected representatives from the FNT area, one Member of Parliament and three MLAs as advisers to facilitate coordination with the Central and state governments.
The Interim Council can function for a maximum of one year from the date of its constitution, or until the first elected FNTA is constituted, whichever is earlier.
Powers, administration and policing
The FNTA will have legislative, executive, administrative and financial powers over subjects transferred to it under the Act and its First Schedule, subject to the laws and directions of the Nagaland Government.
It will be responsible for formulating integrated development plans and implementing schemes and plans for the FNT area. It will also have the power to make laws, rules, regulations and orders on matters listed in the First Schedule, subject to the general policy of the government.
The FNTA’s administrative functions will be carried out through officers posted or deputed by the Nagaland Government.
The state government will appoint an IAS officer, preferably of the rank of Additional Chief Secretary and not below the rank of Principal Secretary, as the Chief Executive Secretary (CES) of the FNTA.
The CES will be posted in consultation with the Chief Executive Member (CEM) of the FNTA and will carry out functions in accordance with the policies, directions and instructions of the FNTA. An administrative structure will also be established under the CES to serve as the FNTA Secretariat.
An Additional Commissioner (District Administration) will be posted at the FNTA headquarters in consultation with the CEM and will be given necessary supervisory powers over administration within the FNT.
The FNTA Secretariat will comprise officers and staff determined by the Nagaland Government in consultation with the CEM. Its departments will be headed by officers posted by the state government according to administrative requirements, with Joint Director- or Additional Director-level officers assigned to major departments at the FNTA headquarters for coordination.
Officers posted to the FNTA Secretariat will remain part of their respective state cadres and continue to be governed by the service rules, disciplinary control and transfer policies of the Nagaland Government. They will exercise their assigned powers and functions under the guidance and supervision of the CEM.
On public order and policing, the FNTA, with the assistance of the ENPO and Tribal Councils (Hohos), will work to maintain peace and a conducive environment for development in the FNT.
The state government will post an IGP-level IPS officer at the FNTA headquarters to supervise police administration across the region, with the option of creating DIGP-level posts at other locations if required.
The state government will also strengthen administration and policing in the border areas of the FNT. The FNTA will work to preserve and modernise the Village Guards through restructuring, recruitment, training and improved equipment, with financial assistance from the Government of India.
The FNTA will coordinate with MPs, MLAs, Deputy Commissioners and Superintendents of Police in the FNT to support law and order and the formulation and implementation of development plans.
Oversight, dissolution and 10-year review
A Joint Monitoring Committee comprising representatives of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the Nagaland Government, the FNTA and the ENPO will be constituted to periodically review the implementation of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA).
If the FNTA or its Executive Council fails to perform its functions, or if political instability prevents its administration from functioning according to law, the state government may recommend action to the Governor.
The Governor may suspend or dissolve the FNTA and appoint an Administrator to run its affairs until it is revived or reconstituted, for a period not exceeding six months.
As per the Act, the Governor may take steps to improve coordination between the Nagaland Government and the FNTA. The FNTA’s administrative structure will be reviewed after 10 years to assess its effectiveness in meeting the aspirations of the people of the FNT.
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